Today is Isthmus Green Day 2009!

Living a more eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle has never been more rewarding, easy or fun! You'll be able to learn a lot without even trying at the Isthmus Green Day Expo, one of the most inclusive events of its kind ever to hit Madison.

Below are just some of the scheduled events at the expo and for more information go HERE for a full schedule.

Sun, Wind and Water: An introduction to renewable energy systems

Presented by Doug Stingle, Midwest Renewable

Energy Association Noon, Lakeside Commons

Are you interested in learning about renewable energy systems that can be installed at your home and business? This session will cover the basics of solar electric, solar hot water and wind systems and provide information on financial incentives available for each system. Take the next step in becoming "green" and learn about renewable energy systems and find out if they are right for you. Doug Stingle is the membership and outreach coordinator for the MREA and delivers presentations about renewable energy throughout the Midwest.

Searching for ways to eat healthier and make better food choices without overwhelming your budget? Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko share practical tips, strategies and recipes for enjoying more sustainable, healthy foods while saving money and helping the environment.

Kivirist and Ivanko are organic growers, national speakers, writers (they're the co-authors of ECOpreneuring, Rural Renaissance and Edible Earth) and innkeepers at Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast, which is completely powered by renewable energy. This husband-and-wife duo manage a diversity of ecopreneurial endeavors, including a marketing consulting business, from their small organic farm. They share their farm in Browntown, Wis., with their son, a thriving colony of honeybees and millions of ladybugs.

Rain gardens: Designing for function and beauty

Presented by John Gishnock III, Formecology 12:30 pm, Stage one

As ever more pavement covers the earth, storm water has fewer places to go. That's bad, because it leads to water pollution and flooding and reduces groundwater recharge. Rain gardens can help. They are designed to capture, purify and infiltrate storm water while looking good, too. And they can be tailored to just about any landscape. John Gishnock III will discuss the features and benefits of rain gardens, with a special focus on installation techniques for do-it-yourselfers. Gishnock is owner of Formecology, where he balances his time between his roles as ecological designer and advocate for more sustainable approaches to landscaping. He has worked on a wealth of projects, including the South Milwaukee High School native landscape, for which he was awarded the 2006 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award by the EPA and Chicago Wilderness consortium.

Environmentally Focused Public Schools: Green charter schools

Presented by Senn Brown, Green Charter Schools Network

10 am, Green Day Room, Level 4

How can citizens plan, implement and operate an environmental public school? Environmental charter schools offer options in public education and empower young people to help make the world a better place. Senn Brown is executive director of the Green Charter Schools Network, a brand-new national organization of public elementary and

secondary schools with environment-focused educational programs and practices. Previously he served for eight years as founding executive secretary of the Wisconsin Charter Schools Association.

Recycling Away From Home: How to responsibly plan a festival

Presented by Paul Abramson and George Dreckmann

1 pm, Lakeside Commons

You may be in the habit of recycling at home, but practices can be harder to keep when you're out and about. Learn how to keep event-generated recyclable trash out of landfills bottles, cans, cardboard - at events from backyard cookouts to block parties to the Willy Street Fair. Paul Abramson and volunteers from the local group MadisonRAH (Recycling Away From Home) and Madison recycling coordinator George Dreckmann will discuss how to help any size gathering reduce waste. More info, too, on the city of Madison's recycling bin program. Abramson founded MadisonRAH in 2000 with five people showing others how to recycle festival waste. Now hundreds of volunteers from neighborhoods and Four Lakes Sierra Club are involved.

Creating Environmental Awareness in the Community

Presented by Alan Capelle, Upper Iowa University

1 pm, Green Day Room, Level 4

There is a disconnect between our desire to alleviate global warming and the various governmental and individual actions and strategies actually needed to achieve the goal. Environmental coursework can help bridge the gap. Professor Alan Capelle will discuss Upper Iowa's environmental coursework, student projects and proposed sustainability minor. Capelle is director of the Environmental/Earth Sciences program at Upper Iowa University.

A Greener Internet Future

Presented by SupraNet Communications 2 pm, Green Day Room, Level 4

What role does the Internet play in our current energy crisis? Internet servers consume more electricity than all the color TVs in America. The power consumption of the information technology sector has been growing at a rate of 20% a year since 2000. When you access the Internet, you're ultimately contributing to greenhouse gases. In this session, SupraNet will discuss the opportunities available for more energy-efficient operations. This session will be especially useful for IT professionals and responsible business leaders. SupraNet Communications Inc. is a business-to-business ISP, offering hosting, spam and virus filtering, colocation/virtual colocation, T1, multi-megabit and fiber connectivity services. Founded locally in 1994, SupraNet is committed to developing a greener Internet.

The Real Dirt on Clean

Presented by Monica Marrone and Anke Johnson 2 pm, Lakeside Commons

Many of the chemicals we bring into our home disguised as cleaning products can be hazardous to the environment and to our health. Learn about the risks and safe alternatives during this interactive session. Handouts, free samples and hands-on demonstrations of "Get Clean" products from Shaklee. Independent Shaklee distributors Monica Marrone and Anke Johnson will share their passion for helping people create healthy homes and a healthier planet.

EnAct Steps to Greener Living

Presented by Nicole Craig 2 pm, Stage One

EnAct is a free and local sustainable living program managed by Madison Environmental Group Inc. EnAct teams learn together how to take individual action to improve the environment. Participants reduce waste, conserve energy, protect water quality, choose healthy food, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build community. This session will discuss many of EnAct's steps to greener living.

On Place, Partnerships and Parsnips: Eating locally with community-supported agriculture

Presented by Erin Schneider MACSAC 3 pm, Lakeside Commons

Celebrate the growing season, locally. Learn how to receive fresh foods through CSA farms and "Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin" initiatives that benefit both the farmer and the consumer. You will learn how CSA works, how to choose a farm, what to expect and options to make CSA affordable. Ideas to help you make the shift in how you eat, where, and why it's earth-friendly, socially responsible and tastier. Presenter Erin Schneider is the director of the Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition. She holds a B.S. in natural resource management, biology and soil science and an MED in science education and nonprofit administration. She has spent several years in the ecological restoration and education field.

The Natural Way to Play

Activities for Kids 9 am-4 pm, Isthmus Green Day Children's Area

Aldo Leopold Center, Nature Net and Madison Children's Museum invite kids and families to discover the wonders of the natural world. Explore local animals "inside out" at the Skins and Skulls booth; color your world at the Where's Aldo? coloring station; get to know your local lake critters at the Leap Into Lakes play area, and pick upfree information on family-friendly nature sites in the area.

Flooring by Eco-Friendly Flooring.

The Kissers Play Live!

4:30 pm, Stage Two

An energetic live show by the Kissers features off-kilter humor and eclectic instrumentation. Violin, banjo, accordion and a range of sonic effects combine with diverse influences for a unique sound that straddles the gap between indie-rock and Irish music. Audiences and reviewers compare them to bands as varied as the Shins, Pogues and the Decemberists. Band members are Ken Fitzsimmons, Waylan Nate Palan, Kari Bethke, Mike Cammilleri, Sean Michael Dargan and Joe Bernstein.